Integrated grease fitting protector and installation date recorder

Abstract

An information recording device having an attachment element for attachment to a grease fitting of a bearing assembly and a recording device attached thereto having date indicia to record installation date and/or maintenance records. The recording device further includes a grease fitting protective cap to fit over and enclose the grease fitting.

1 . An information recording device comprising: 
 an attachment element adapted for attachment to a grease fitting;    a tether having a first end connected to the attachment element; and    a recording device attached to the tether;    the recording device including an area to include date indicia.    
     
     
         2 . The information recording device of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment element comprises a ring that fits over the grease fitting.  
     
     
         3 . The information recording device of  claim 1 , wherein the recording device includes date indicia representing the months of the year.  
     
     
         4 . The information recording device of  claim 1 , wherein the recording device includes date indicia including various years.  
     
     
         5 . The information recording device of  claim 4 , wherein the recording device further includes date indicia representing the months of the year.  
     
     
         6 . The information recording device of  claim 4 , wherein the recording device further includes date indicia including the four quarters of the year.  
     
     
         7 . The information recording device of  claim 1 , wherein the recording device includes date indicia and the recording device further includes a grease fitting cap.  
     
     
         8 . The information recording device of  claim 7 , wherein the recording device includes date indicia representing the months of the year.  
     
     
         9 . The information recording device of  claim 7 , wherein the recording device includes date indicia including various years.  
     
     
         10 . The information recording device of  claim 9 , wherein the recording device further includes date indicia representing the months of the year.  
     
     
         11 . The information recording device of  claim 9 , wherein the recording device further includes date indicia including the four quarters of the year.  
     
     
         12 . The information recording device of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment element, tether, and recording device are an integral injection molded unit.  
     
     
         13 . The information recording device of  claim 12 , wherein, date indicia is injection molded into the recording device.  
     
     
         14 . The information recording device of  claim 13 , wherein the recording device further includes a grease fitting cap.  
     
     
         15 . The information recording device of  claim 13 , wherein the recording device includes date indicia representing the months of the year.  
     
     
         16 . The information recording device of  claim 13 , wherein the recording device includes date indicia including various years.  
     
     
         17 . The information recording device of  claim 16 , wherein the recording device further includes date indicia representing the months of the year.  
     
     
         18 . The information recording device of  claim 16 , wherein the recording device further includes date indicia including the four quarters of the year.  
     
     
         19 . The information recording device of  claim 1 , wherein the recording device includes an electronic recording element.